Baseball Bats Buyers Guide

Aluminum alloy: Aluminum alloys vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. The higher quality the alloy, the higher the performance you will get from your bat. Over the years, alloys have actually improved even for the lower priced bats. Technology for baseball bats has become very competitive which is great for you because you can choose which high-tech improvement fits your style. Word to the wise: Technology is great, but go with the bat you like, the one that feels right when you swing it.

Composite - Some bats are 100% composite, some have composite handles and alloy barrels. Materials used to make composite bats vary between manufacturers, so read the bat descriptions carefully. What's the best combination? It depends on who's swinging the bat. You are the best judge of that.

Wood - Wood bats are made of either ash, maple, bamboo, or even maple composite wood. Some wood bats even come with up to a 90 day warranty, which was unheard of not too long ago. Wood bats have made a come back in recent years with the popularity of wood bat tournaments coming up all over the country.

Adult -3 Baseball Bats - For College or High School use - leagues: NCAA, NFHS

Senior League Bats - For youths ages 11 - 13 - Little League

Youth Bats - Little League, Babe Ruth, Cal Ripkin, Dixie, Pony

T-Ball Bats - Usually ages 4 - 6

Wood Bats - Are available for all leagues.

Fungo Bats - Fungo bats are much longer and thinner than bats used for games. They are designed to be swung repeatedly without making you tired. They are used for coaches to hit balls to their players to practice fielding grounders or fly balls. Fungo bats are available in wood or metal and a wide variety of colors.

Training Bats - Training bats differ from any other type of bat because they have special features that any other bat doesn't have. Some training bats have a completely flat side aiding the player to hit the ball square. Some training bats are meant to help you improve your swing mechanics using an adjustable weight feature. The classic thunderstick bat design is meant to improve hand-eye coordination.

Barrel size
This includes both the length of the barrel--top part of the bat--and its diameter. The longer the barrel, generally, the larger the sweet spot for hitting the ball. As for diameter, the standard is 2 1/2, inches but many players prefer a smaller barrel that lightens weight and provides more swing speed.

Taper
This is the diameter of the bat's handle. Standard bats are tapered 31/32 of an inch but can be slightly larger or smaller depending on whether you want a lighter or heavier bat. You may prefer the feel of a bigger bat taper, which can also reduce the sting when a ball isn't struck on the sweet spot. Some players like a narrower taper for the lighter weight and to rotate their wrists faster when hitting.

Grip
The grip is simply the covering that bat manufacturers use on the handle of aluminum bats. Rubber grips absorb more of the shock. Leather or synthetic leather gives a tackier feel for a surer grip. Some bats come with a cushioned grip to decrease the shock even more.